Our water dogs have never been
in the lake above their paws.
We decided it was time for
Chloe to have a swimming lesson.
We suited her up with a
life jacket for her first lesson.
The jacket was a wee bit large,
her front leg kept coming out
while swimming so it was jettisoned.
A good time was had by all
including the spectators :)
Ready to go again!
Chloe & Gracie hope you’re cooling off and
enjoying a little recreation this weekend!
Just too precious! Love the life jacket too!
Aww! Luv! So darn sweet!
Lindo amar tanto os cachorrinhos; Muito charmosos.
Adorable, as always!
YeeHaw!!!!!!
ox
Good morning! So cute! My Bichon doesn’t like the water at all. He fell in our pool once and makes sure it doesn’t happen again! LOL!
I’ve wondered whether Maizy could swim if she happened to fall into the water, but haven’t bee brave enough to find out. She wears a life jacket so at least that would keep her afloat. Chloe took to the water like a champ!
What about Gracie?…she wasn’t interested? When we vacationed at your lake we put a life jacket on our dog, too. We knew she’d jump in out in the middle of the lake when the kids did. She loves the water, but has only ever walked in…never jumped in over her head. She paddled like crazy because she didn’t kwow she could float. :)
You’al are so wise in letting “the girls” “test the waters.” I see they had the “doggie paddle” down pat!! franki
Just darling! Love the life jacket too. Some dogs just adore water and hop right in and some like to just like to look. Our dog Rusty is a looker and a pool edge walker. He is not thrilled to go in even though he is a good swimmer. Looks like you had a fun day with your little fur babies.
Hi Mary, Chloe is so adorable modeling her latest fashion and strutting down the runway! And that handle is just too cute!!! I wondered if you ever put life jackets on them in the boat. So did Gracie follow her in? Linda
Hi Cheryl & Linda~ Gracie is skittish around the water and doesn’t like getting her feet wet :)
How cute. I wish our pond was clean like your lake. Bailey just jumps in even though I am yelling NO! She gets filled with trash and muck and it stinks.
Well, I went “swimming” yesterday too, but jus up to MY paws:) The water in the pol is COLD right now so didn’t ge in but laid in th sun for a couple of hours. It was like Heaven, 79 and a nice breeze! Chloe loks adorable, and so does Gracie!!! The “swimming instructor” isn’t bad either:):):
Loved seeing your sweet pet kids. This is really sweet. I have a big smile on my face seeing Chloe brave the water. Looks like she found a “Merman” in the water to play with. ;-)
We have a min-pin dauchsund mix at our home on Lake Cherokee, northeastern Tennessee. We have a floating dock and my husband built out of a small piece of plywood, a small “ramp” which can be raised and lowered into the water. It is held up to the support posts of the upper level of the dock with a simple bungee cord and has a longer nylon rope so it can be lowered and raised by us. It is next to the ladder and it has a boat “bumper” underneath it which helps it float. The ramp also has 3 or four small 1x1s nailed horizontally across the ramp which helps Ilse climb up the ramp from the water by herself to get to the dock and out of the water. Our dog appears to love the water as much as yours and she will go down to the swim steps on the boat and enter the water herself if I am “too far away from her while I’m floating in the lake (also on noodles or papasan float chairs) and her need to be with me all the time” because of her abandonment issues as she is a rescue dog.
We actually launched the boat yesterday and were out all day! It did start pouring rain on us as we headed into the marina. (Our cabin is right by our marina). But it cleared-up again, and we went out to Wine Stoppers on the lake last night. We were so happy to see the sun!
Is Chloe turning into a little water bug? She looks so cute. What did Gracie think about Chloe’s swim lesson? They are both so cute.
xo,
RJ
PS Have you seen the new Crest Pontoon boats? One model has a bar with barstools. I don’t think I’m sold on it yet!
If you get them used to the water, you’ll need a bass fishing dip net.
My min Doxi fell off the bow once and soon after we had to start tying her to
a tether too short too reach the edge of the deck. She would take flying leaps off the bow at 25 mph trying to stretch her ears further into the wind.
We dipped her out dozens of times at the lake.
I love that first photograph of Chloe modeling her fashionable life jacket! Such a cute expression on her face.
Hooray for Chloe! Oh Mary, your pups are so adorable ~ you gave me a good big grin all the way through your post –great photos — (and made this gray, damp day look a lot brighter!) Thank you for sharing. ~m.
Oh Mary you dogs are so darn cute. Chloe looks like she loves the water. Gracie is the diva and doesn’t want to get her feet wet. How cute is that.
I have two dogs and one likes water and the other one Lili is a diva also.
They sure make are days don’t they.
Have a great one.
Mary
That is just so cute, Mary.
Molly won’t go in the water. I think it is because she used to go with J to feed the catfish in our farm pond when she was a baby puppy. She will go on the dock, but doesn’t want anything to do with the water. She remembers those big ol’ fish with their mouths wide open waiting for dinner!! I believe it is a tad unusual for a Labrador Retriever to be a landlubber.LOL
Hi Mary! LOVE this post!! I have shared it with my bichon friends!! My Chloe has gone in up to her belly….they both have life jackets which we have on the boat, but neither one of them has had official swimming lessons…this gives me an idea!! Your swim instructor did a great job too!! Hope all’s well and hugs to both Chloe and Gracie!!
Hi Y’all!
Way to go Chloe! You’re swimmin’ like a retriever!
Y’all come back now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
How cute! I’m glad she enjoyed it! I remember when The Brat jumped off the boat in the middle of the ocean… Thank God for fishing nets! Glad you had a little water time, it’s gorgeous but so un-summer like here… This is the nicest fall we’ve ever had in summer:@)
What a refreshing post. Chloe looks as if she has taken to swimming without hesitation. What about Gracie? Did she want to join in or just be a spectator? Cute photos of these precious girls. Alma shared her swimming canines today too. ;-)
She’s swimming..Chloe is swimming..she is just the cutest…and looks like she had a great lesson from a nice instructor!!..Beautiful weekend for enjoying the lake!!
Your dogs are precious. I love that you take them out and do things with them. We have a cat and have taken him to the lake with us and he likes to run around on the dock. Keep posting updates on the girls.
Your *fur babies* are just so charming, Mary! They have the cutest expressions…makes me smile every time I see their antics.
You’re smart to help them get accustomed to being in the water under your watchful eye.
Why am I now hearing Dory, (from the movie “Finding Nemo”) singing
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming….” LOL
Oh goodness, how adorable! I am so glad you had a sunny, swimming weekend! Your little fur balls keep you hopping all day long I imagine, those faces are impossible to resist!
Jenna
SO many ADORABLE SHOTS! i thought my favorite was when she was riding like a parrot on her daddies shoulder, until i kept scrolling they got cuter and cuter! i can’t believe you waited so long to make them swimming fools, living by water is so important they know how to survive the heat solo! my girls live in all forms of water, from fountains to buckets, to puddles, they are always getting soaked! cutest girlie girl series ever!
Great post!! Loved it! My dog is half lab, half retriever and hates the water, go figure!! My husband calls her half lab, half relaxer because she doesn’t retrieve a darn thing. Enjoyed this!
Look at that big smile on Chloe’s face! Looks like she really enjoyed her first lesson.
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
CUTE! Our son has young pup learning to swim and find the steps in his pool! Collies are not great water dogs. Your sweetheart is so precious.
Pam
Absolutely love, love this post. Your adorable family has so much fun together!! Chloe;s life jacket with the little handle is just too cute. You really seized the moments and captured their personalities so well. Every picture made me say awe……and brought on a big smile :-))).
Your husband is so cute with her, you can tell Chloe really does trust him. The time out for a little doggie hug in the water is so endearing. What a fun day of play!! Thanks so much for sharing. lol k
I too had a Bichon Frisé named Khloe and after 14yrs of having her as part of our family, she passed away in March of this year. We are still so heartbroken but would like to get another one. Could you give me the information for the breeder you bought your newest Bichon puppy from.